Skype is shutting down after two decades
Transitioning from Skype to Microsoft Teams
Prior to May 5, Skype users can conveniently sign in to Teams for free using their existing Skype credentials. Upon logging in, all chats and contacts will be automatically transferred to the application.
Teams provides similar functionalities to Skype, including one-on-one and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. While Skype was primarily designed for smaller groups (up to 20 participants) and casual use, Teams is tailored for business purposes, supporting up to 10,000 participants in a single video call. It also features advanced security measures and various integrations, such as Evernote, OneDrive, Office 365, Salesforce, SharePoint, Trello, and more.
Skype is shutting down after two decades
Procedure for Exporting Skype Data
For users opting not to transition to Microsoft Teams, it is advisable to export account data. This process safeguards important information, including messages, files, and contact details, ensuring they are backed up and accessible in the future.
Open Skype and log in.
Click on the three horizontal dots under the account name in the top left corner.
Go to Settings > Account & Profile > Your Account.
After being redirected to Skype’s web portal, choose from either Export contacts (.csv), Export Caller ID numbers (.csv), or Export files and chat history.
The “Export files and chat history” option lets users download Conversations and Files.
Click Submit Request and Continue.
When the export process is complete, click Download.
Skype is shutting down after two decades
Microsoft is discontinuing Skype, the internet-based phone and video service that was once the leading platform for connectivity in the mid-2000s.
Skype will be "unavailable" starting in May, as confirmed by the company on X. Users are informed that their login credentials can be utilized on Microsoft Teams' free tier in the "coming days."
The decision to shut down Skype comes 14 years after Microsoft acquired the service for $8.5 billion in cash, marking the company's largest acquisition at that time. Microsoft subsequently integrated Skype into its other offerings, such as Office and the now-defunct Windows Phone mobile operating system.
"Skype has been instrumental in shaping modern communications and supporting countless significant moments, and we are proud to have been part of this journey," stated Jeff Teper, President of Microsoft 365 Collaborative Apps and Platforms, in a blog post. "We are enthusiastic about the new possibilities that Teams offers and remain committed to helping users stay connected in innovative and meaningful ways."
Skype's popularity has diminished in recent years, despite a pandemic-induced resurgence that benefited other competing products, including Zoom, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex. Over the past decade and a half, Skype has faced increasing competition from applications like Apple's FaceTime and Meta's WhatsApp. Additionally, Microsoft has been heavily investing in Teams, which provides many similar services.
Skype was launched in 2003 in Estonia and rapidly gained popularity as a means to make free international calls, a significant advantage given the high cost of traditional international phone calls at the time. The service's success led to its acquisition by eBay in 2005 for $2.6 billion. However, the partnership was unsuccessful, and eBay sold its 65% stake in Skype to an investor group for $1.9 billion in 2009, before Microsoft acquired it in 2011.
Here are the best Skype alternatives
Google Meet
Google Meet is free with a Google account, making it easy for existing users to transition. It supports meetings with up to 100 participants, screen sharing, and recording. However, the free plan limits meetings with more than three participants to 60 minutes. Large companies might opt for Google Workspace plans, starting at $7/month, for features like up to 25 co-hosts, breakout rooms, polls, Q&A sessions, YouTube livestreaming, and AI tools via the Gemini assistant for note-taking and custom backgrounds.
Zoom
Zoom is a popular web-conferencing tool offering features like hosting up to 100 participants, private and public chat, notes, a whiteboard, screen-sharing, meeting recording, and transcripts. However, the free plan has a 40-minute meeting limit. Subscriptions, costing $13 to $18 per month, remove this limit and provide access to Zoom’s AI Companion, which can summarize meetings and answer questions about transcriptions.
Webex,
Webex, the Cisco-owned video conferencing tool, offers features like screen sharing, session recording, and a whiteboard. The free plan allows up to 100 attendees per meeting with a 40-minute limit. Paid plans start at $12/month, offering an AI assistant, live polling, Q&A, and up to 1,000 attendees.
Discord
Discord was originally created as a chat platform for gamers, but it can also be used as an alternative to Skype for personal use or smaller teams. However, it is not ideal for larger businesses, as it restricts calls to 25 participants.
On the plus side, Discord provides unlimited meeting durations and features such as screen sharing, meeting recording, and breakout rooms. The platform offers a free plan along with two paid options priced at $5/month and $10/month, making it one of the more cost-effective options depending on users’ requirements.
Slack
Slack is ideal for spontaneous team meetings via its Huddle feature, which allows users to transition from chat to informal audio or video calls. On the free plan, Huddles are limited to two people, while paid plans ($7/month or $12/month) support up to 50 participants.
Signal
Signal, the encrypted messaging app, has offered group video-calling features since 2020, supporting up to 50 participants per call.
While not a direct competitor to Skype, it allows link sharing for calls, similar to Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. Signal is notably free to use.
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